Renowned Kenyan footballer Victor Wanyama is entangled in a digital storm of controversy, triggered by a manipulated image involving singer Bahati’s family.
The image, skillfully photoshopped and shared by an online user, @Wesley_Kibande, portrays Bahati ,Diana Marua and their three children.
However, the intrigue lies in the strategic addition of celebrity faces, seamlessly placed beside the children.
In this artful composition, Victor Wanyama’s likeness has been adeptly integrated next to Bahati’s adopted son, while two other popular celebrities placed alongside Bahati’s daughter and son.
Reacting to the digital manipulation, Wanyama who has a son with actress Serah Teshna took to his Twitter account to express his disappointment.
“This foolishness needs to stop now!!!,” he wrote.
This incident isn’t the first instance where the celebrated Tottenham Hotspurs and Celtic legend has been linked to controversy.
The saga originated with a photo surfacing online featuring Diana and Wanyama in 2020.
Diana Marua, in response to the rumors that she had a romantic involvement with Victor, clarified the private selfie photo was taken on a day they hung out with mutual friends, resulting in numerous pictures, many of which were group shots.
Keen-eyed online users noted the supposed striking resemblance between one of Bahati’s children and Victor Wanyama, fueling speculation that Diana might have a child with the football star.
Nonetheless, Diana addressed these allegations through her YouTube channel.
“Guys, I met Victor through a mutual friend, and we happened to hang out,” Diana explained.
“So that translated to us taking selfies and group photos, and Kenyans on Twitter, you guys chose not to pick the group photo but you chose to highlight the selfie photo, which mnapenda mushene.”
She candidly admitted to her past as a “party girl” before her time with Bahati.
Diana also reiterated that she has never been married to anyone other than Bahati and that her three children are the only ones she shares with the artiste.
It isnt the first time the footballer has attracted controversy.
In the other instance, he sued socialite Shakilla for claiming he had paid her Sh700,000 for a good time.
In a petition before the High Court, Wanyama sued Shakilla alias I Am Shakilla and blogger Arthur Mandela, popularly known as Xtian Dela.
“Take note that the Application dated 6th October 2020 has been fixed for hearing on 10th November 2020 at Milimani Law Courts at 9:00am in the forenoon or soon after in the High Court at Nairobi,” the petition reads in part.
“TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if no appearance is made by yourself and your appointed advocate or someone authorised by law the matter will proceed and orders issued your absence notwithstanding.”
The matter stems from an interview on Instagram Live where Shakilla claimed to have been paid for sex by several Kenyan celebrities, including Wanyama.
The case was later withdrawn.
